The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-10-20
CLEVELAND DEFENDED.
A Letter to the Soldiers Written
by Soldier.

compare the two and see what ground there |
is for the fuss about Cleveland's pension We
toes. First, give you the message of Grant
in full, as found on page 800 Of reported veto
messages by the Senate from 1892 to 1886:
JA~UARY so, 1875.
T, The House Of Representatives.
1 have the honor to return herewith House
bill No. 1852 entitled "An act for the relief OF
Alexander Burtch,' from which 1 withhold
my approval for the reasons given in the ac-
companytng letter of the Secretary of War:
WAR DEPARTMENT,
WAsHINGToN CITY, Jan. p, 1875. J
SIR Il have the honor to return House bill
No. 4I62 for the reiief of Alexander Burtch- II
appears from the records of this office that
Alexander Burtch, Company H, First Artillery,
enlisted July "a 1861 for three years, re-enlisted
as a veteran January l, 1864, and deserted at Fit
Gaines, Alabama, september 25, 1865 and i0ds q
dese4ter at large at date OF muster out of his
company, January 10, 1866. This department
emphaticaly objects to this bill becoming
law upon the grolod Of lis great injustice TO every
soldier oho serued ho'torably until his services ,oere
no longer repaired ty The Government. Very re-
spectfuliy your obedient servant,
WIN. w. BELKNAP,
To the President. Secretary of War.
Veto message of Grover Cleveland as taken
from page 5O4 of tht same report:
JUNE %, 1885.
To the House of Repyesenfaffpes
return without approval House bill No.
6257, entitled "An act for the relief of Julia
Connolly" 1t is proposed by this bill to grant
a pension to the beneficiary named widow
of Thomas Connolly. This man was mustered
into the service october 26, 1851. He never did
a days ser, ice so far as his name appears, and
the muster-out roll of his company reports
i'm ed al CamO Cameron. Pa.
November IA, 1861. He visited his family about
the first day of December, 1851, and was found,
December 80, 1861, drowned in a canal about six
miles from his home. Those toho prosecute claims
FIR pensions hare groUn Uery bold trhen cases q
this desc iption are pr esentedJ0r consideration.
GROVER CLEVELAND.
Comrades, the last paragraph of this short
message is certainly sarcastic. But is it more
sidering the facts surrounding both cases,
as sarcastic and as wanting in sympathy as
the one that closes the message to Grant
Compare the facts Of the service of the veteran
named in Grants message as above recorded,
who served years, 2months and day and
until the last rebel had laid down his gun,
with the facts of the service of Connolly for
only 10 days, and then answer the question
Which Of the dosing paragraphs Of tie f70o
messages is the more sarcastic, or zoAieA hhf
more destitute of true 6enevolenee /? Comrades,
know that every one of you that did his
duty dislikes deserter. But let me ask you
which of these two marked deserters, Burtch,
who for years and until the enemy had laid
his arms, fought the battles of his country and
| then returned to his friends, or Connolly, who
served but 10 days, deserved the most sympa-
thy at the hands of President of our coun.
trys
| Comrades, the facts are that all this paraa.
about pension bills being 0etOed by P'esfdfn
Czeveland is only the lparade Of small 0rnarroal
mindsd politicians 7OAo are seeking to eontrO
HE soldiers vote.i They have well nigh sew
cred the G.. .A,s R. into many sections, crea
ting only strife and bad feeling among com
rades who for years fought shoulder tt
shoulder to save this Union of States. Nor
during all that time, did one inquire of tn
other as to his political views. The aear 7Oa
not zcar of political parties, but 7Oar to sag
tie Union. Democrats and Republicans ahk
went into the war, and they alike shared tn
hardships of the field. With these fact
staring us in the face are we going to be led
% years after the war is over, into abusing
the President for vetoing bill proposing t
pension the widow of a man with the recor'
of this man Connolly And that too in orde
that some narrow-minded demagogue ma
reap personal or political advantage?
The case of Connolly is only sample {
all these fraudulent claims vetoed by MI
Cleveland, and, INSTEAD of eensHring him, II
should honor him far insisting that only II
true and zcortlly soldier shall share the 6os.nl
of onr goveynmext. 1t is high time that W
are as soldiers assert our individuality, an
not allow ourselves or the G. A. R. to b
made the instruments of the designing pol
ticians of any party. We should not allo'
ourselves to be governed by feeling or Prejr
dice placed these two messages side b
side before you as written, one by the Ii
mented Grant, the other by Cleveland, tha
you might compvre them. If you read then
YOU will agree that there was much to excus
the conduct of Burtch, and not an excuse fc
in the conduct of Connolly. Not a word
uttered against Grant, but C2e0eland IS abuse
: and mahened in Sneh 7Uay that eSe,y tn
, soldier, If he 6m stops to think, 7Oih the fac
before him, anil blush zvih shame at tie rO'
dnet of some Of those aOh0 are n0sO esieyi,'
Mr fruits of a Union that ne, the soldier.
: fought to re-esta6lish, and 10hieh Preside'
CzeSeIand as honestly Aa6orIng TO maintain !
its original simplicity and purity.
e Comrades, when we were sworn into th
2 service of the U. S. we obligated ourselves
: obey the orders of the President. Th